Webster entered training camp in a battle for the starting small forward spot, but Coach Randy Wittman elected to go with the defensive presence of veteran Trevor Ariza to provide balance with Wall and Beal, the primary scorers in the starting unit.

“We need to have a guy that can knock shots down with that second group,” Wittman said of his decision to put Webster in a reserve role. “We talked. He’s fine. It’s all about winning and he knows that. Doing what’s right for our team and right now, I think that’s more important for us to have that punch there.”

Webster’s willingness to accept the role, following a season in which he averaged a career-high 11.4 points and earned a four-year contract worth about $22 million, has helped him earn more respect from his teammates. A sense of entitlement didn’t come attached with his new contract.